Ag Exemption with Bees in Johnson County, Texas: Hives, Acres, Cost & How to File (2027 Guide)

Quick answer: Johnson County landowners with 5 to 20 acres can qualify for agricultural (1-d-1) valuation with managed honeybee colonies. Johnson County Appraisal District's intensity standard is 5 hives for 5–10 acres, 7 hives for 10–15 acres, and 8 hives for 15–20 acres, with hives on the property at least 7 months of the year. Land must show 5 of the previous 7 years in agricultural use. Applications are filed with Johnson CAD in Cleburne between January 1 and April 30.

Does Johnson County allow bees for an ag exemption?

Yes. Texas Tax Code Section 23.51(2) makes beekeeping an agricultural use on tracts of 5 to 20 acres, and Johnson County Appraisal District (Johnson CAD, Cleburne) applies that statute with its own local intensity standards. Ten Box Bees currently manages hives on properties across Johnson County, including Burleson, Cleburne, Alvarado, Godley, Joshua, Grandview, Rio Vista and Venus.

How many hives does Johnson County require?

Hives must be active, managed colonies kept on the property for a minimum of 7 months each year. Johnson CAD values qualifying bee land at the dry cropland productivity rate. Always confirm current numbers with Johnson CAD before filing; standards can change from year to year.

How many acres do I need?

Between 5 and 20 acres of land actually used for bees. Your homestead (house, yard, driveway, outbuildings) is carved out first, typically about 1 acre. A 6-acre lot with a house on it usually leaves 5 qualifying acres. A 4.5-acre lot does not qualify under state law, regardless of how many hives you keep.

The 5-of-7-year history rule

To receive agricultural valuation, land must have been in agricultural use for 5 of the previous 7 years. If your land has no ag history, the bees start that clock: hives placed in year one qualify the land for the reduced valuation in year six. If your land already carries an ag exemption for cattle or hay, switching to bees keeps the history intact as long as there is no gap.

What does it save?

Agricultural valuation taxes the qualifying acreage at its productivity value instead of market value. On a 10-acre Johnson County tract, that is often the difference between several thousand dollars a year and a few hundred. Most Ten Box Bees clients save $2,500 to $6,000 or more per year after the cost of the hive lease.

What does a managed hive program cost in Johnson County?

Ten Box Bees leases fully managed hives at $385 per hive per year plus a one-time $200 setup fee. For a typical Johnson County property that is $2,125 to $3,280 per year. That price includes hive placement, all colony management and inspections, wax moth and varroa control, and the placement records and annual agricultural-use documentation Johnson CAD asks for.

How to apply with Johnson CAD

1. Confirm acreage. Pull your Johnson CAD property record and subtract the homestead portion. You need 5+ acres left.
2. Get hives on the ground. Colonies must be in place and managed, not just ordered.
3. File Form 50-129 (Application for 1-d-1 Open-Space Agricultural Use Appraisal) with Johnson County Appraisal District, 2 N. Mill St., Cleburne, TX 76033. Filing window is January 1 to April 30. Late applications are accepted until the appraisal roll is certified but carry a penalty.
4. Attach documentation. Hive lease agreement, placement map, colony counts, and any Texas Apiary Inspection Service records.
5. Expect an inspection. Johnson CAD field staff may visit to verify hives are present and active.
6. Keep records every year. Ag valuation is reviewed annually. Ten Box Bees supplies updated documentation each year for clients.

Common Johnson County mistakes

• Counting the house acre toward the 5-acre minimum.
• Buying hives but not managing them: dead or empty boxes do not count.
• Missing the April 30 deadline.
• Assuming a neighbor's hives on the fence line qualify your land.
• Letting the history lapse when switching from cattle to bees.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do this on 4 acres in Johnson County? No. Texas law sets 5 acres as the floor for beekeeping ag use.

Do I have to work the bees myself? No. A managed hive lease from a commercial beekeeper satisfies the requirement, and Johnson CAD accepts lease documentation.

Do the hives have to stay all year? Johnson County requires at least 7 months on the property. Ten Box Bees keeps colonies on client land year-round.

Can I sell the honey? Yes, but you do not have to. Pollination alone is a qualifying agricultural use.

What if I sell the land? The exemption transfers with the land if the buyer continues the ag use. Changing the use triggers a rollback tax on the prior 3 years.

Get a free property evaluation

Ten Box Bees is a veteran-owned commercial beekeeping operation based at 1010 Tejas Trail in Burleson, managing 900+ hives across 73+ North Texas properties. We will look up your Johnson CAD record, tell you how many hives you need, and give you a written quote. Call or text William at 940-597-5219 or request an evaluation online.

This article is general information about Johnson County Appraisal District guidelines as of 2026 and is not tax or legal advice. Confirm current requirements with Johnson CAD at johnsoncad.com or 817-648-3000.